Tan, Africa ranked 4th, 6th best speakers of Korea debate

August 28, 2017

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ASHS News from a report by Matti Tan

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The Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) team of David Africa (11-Tsuji) & Matti Tan (11-Realino) was ranked 3rd after the preliminary rounds and finished as a finalist in the Korea Intervarsity Debate Association (KIDA) Open. In addition, Matti Tan was named 4th Best Speaker of the tournament while David Africa was named 6th Best Speaker of the competition, which was held in Hanyang University in Korea from August 22-24, 2017.

Another ASHS team- comprised of Hans Gonzalez (12-Miki) & Mikko Vitug (12-Pro)- was ranked 5th after the preliminary rounds and finished as a pre-seminfinalist. Hans Gonzalez was named 12th Best Speaker while Mikko Vitug was named 15th Best Speaker.

The KIDA Open is the only international tournament organized by the Korea Intervarsity Debate Association. This year marks the 5th year of the KIDA Open, with participants coming from prestigious schools, universities and professions from around the world competing for the championship. Oxford University, Brown University, Tufts University, YUU, Hanyang were just some of the notable institutions which fielded competitors this year.

The KIDA Open was largely a tournament for college students and working professionals, with only three high school teams competing. The Ateneo contingent comprised two of these teams, the third high school team being Korea's national team for the World Schools Debate Championship. The debaters had to go through six preliminary rounds and accumulate enough team points gained in wins to qualify for the elimination or break rounds. Only the top 12 teams of the tournament were allowed to advance.

Accompanying the ASHS Debaters to the KIDA Open in Korea was their moderator, Ms. Amyrrha M. Estolloso.